PESHAWAR, Aug 22: The NWFP government on Wednesday expressed concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the province and warned high-ranking police officials to take concrete steps to improve the situation, or face disciplinary action.

A letter issued by the government of the NWFP, home and tribal affairs department on Aug 18 said that reports received by the government were indicative of the fact that law and order situation was fast deteriorating in several districts of the province.

Such a situation had caused fear among the people of the districts concerned, said the letter, whose copies were sent to the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO), Peshawar, deputy inspectors-general (DIGs) of police of Dera Ismail Khan, Bannu and Kohat districts.

Official sources said that district nazims and district coordination officers had been asked to develop better coordination with police officials to check crimes in their respective areas. They said that breakdown of the law and order situation in some of the districts had put the police on the defensive.

The sources said that the provincial government was deeply shocked over the law and order situation in these districts, especially the rising incidents of car lifting, kidnapping for ransom and street crimes that took place despite presence of the personnel of the law-enforcement agencies in these areas.

They said that activities of militant groups had also instilled fear among the people as well as the police.

The sources said the policemen had been directed to specifically monitor the areas where the crime ratio was increasing.

They said that the letter had directed senior police officers to monitor the law and order situation and initiate strict disciplinary action against those responsible for the poor law and order in their respective areas.